Former Lafayette pastor returns to promote book about time with George and Barbara Bush

Dr. Russell J. Levenson, former rector of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette, was in town recently to promote a book about his special relationship and time spent with a very prominent couple from Houston.

Levenson, who was a friend and priest to President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, shared tidbits of his new book "A Witness To Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush" with members of the community he still considers a very special home for his family and him.

"A Witness To Dignity" was published in November 2022, and includes never-before shared correspondence, experiences, and personal stories. Levenson said it offers insight into the Bushes’ wit and wisdom, their commitment to family and friends; their tireless desire to bless the lives of others; and their steadfast loyalty to their church, their faith, and God.

While working for his alma mater, Birmingham Southern College, Levenson began to enter the process that would lead to full-time ordained ministry. He served as a Lay Assistant at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Alabama and received his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia in 1992.

As an English major, he said he has always enjoyed writing. It was while writing articles for religious magazines and theoretical articles that he decided to write his first book.

Speaking at his former church on Wednesday, Levenson talked about his first encounter with Bush. He briefly met him in college but he never expected years later that he would become Bush's priest. It was not until 2007 when Levenson, relocated to Houston that he connected with the Bushes. He serves as rector of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston where George and Barbara were active members for more than 50 years.

Levenson remembers a time that he got a phone call letting him know the president wanted to have dinner. "I kept thinking what I am doing here? I'm a redneck from Alabama. What can I talk about with the president? Then there were moments where I thought was this a one-time thing or will this ever happen again?" he said.

During his friendship with the Bushes from 2007 until the time of their deaths in 2018, Levenson believes he was invited into private moments so he could serve as a witness: a witness to observe, and a witness to tell. In 2018, he officiated at the memorial service for First Lady Barbara Bush in Houston, and later that year, he co-officiated and preached at the State Funeral for President George H.W. Bush.

Before beginning to write "A Witness To Dignity", Levenson sought and received the blessing of all the Bush children, including the 43rd president, George W. Bush.

In the book, Levenson shows readers how the Bushes lived out their faith in their day-to-day lives and showcases the untold eyewitness and intimate stories of the character, integrity, service, faith, and dignity of the former president and first lady.

Levenson said that he's read many books about the Bushes, but not a book about their faith. Knowing them as their priest, not as someone in politics, Levenson says he observed their faith and wanted to tell that story. "Their faith was very strong, so I wanted to write a book to honor them, to honor their faith, and honor the Christian faith."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Dr. Russell Levenson returns to Lafayette to talk about his new book